natural light- critique and advice welcome

[appleoo]

I am in love with my new digital camera and advice from this forum has helped me to get better shots . I dont expect to ever afford "real lighting" so I have been practicing alot with natural light. I find the flash washes out my subjects and throws off the colour. Two shots of my daughter. Manuel mode 1/4 shutter ,aperature 6. I tryed my hand at a little photoshop as well.

[PhotosGuy]

I like the lighting on her face, but the light on her leg is a bit distracting. I'd be tempted to crop in from the right to eliminate it & see how that looks.

[tim]

I agree about removing the leg, and it looks a little soft, but I think it's intentional. I think you're on the right track, keep practicing and I expect to see good things from you in the future :)

[appleoo]

Thanks alot for your remarks. I cropped her leg off and I see what you mean....the focus is directed more to her face .Its a visious circle though because once I cropped it I didnt like the leg as much. It looked out of place and too big or something So I kloned it out for fun and ....I think the the pic is too "soft " too..it was taken on low sharpen mode and then photoshopped half to death. I still have focus issues in manual mode as well. I have been looking at alot of "portrait" pics and I would love to grab her again for another session...

[PhotosGuy]

I don't think it's really a focus problem. You shot it at "1/4" shutter & don't say that you used a tripod, so it's probably a cam movement problem. Since you have PS, try selecting her eyes & just sharpen them a little.
Either way, the shot is a keeper. Keep it up!

[DSMITH131]

I don't think it's really a focus problem. You shot it at "1/4" shutter & don't say that you used a tripod, so it's probably a cam movement problem. Since you have PS, try selecting her eyes & just sharpen them a little.
Either way, the shot is a keeper. Keep it up!

I concur it do look to be camera shake

[appleoo]

Thanks for the pointers....off to a party tonight...gonna take my camera.

[RAitch]

Sometimes when you don't have light.... you can create it.
I hope you don't mind that I played around with your pic.
It's not supposed to look too realistic. I was going for the etherial feel.

[appleoo]

I love that. What a hoot the phot shop is. I have loved to paint for years and it is very similar. I am working on a phot of a lady who rarely gets her photo taken. She has very bad looking teeth. She posed for me with her grandson at a party the other night. The pic is not bad in black and white. i am trying to fix up the teeth a bit without changing her looks and making it obvious. What do you think. I would like to post you the entire photo but I am worried about her privacy. What do you think? Maybe I should not be taking the liberty of fixing her teeth before i give her the photo. I just want her to like it cause she has a twinkle in her eye and the baby looks sweet.

[RAitch]

You can always colour range select the teeth and desaturate them a bit to remove some of the colour.
Everybody knows that her teeth aren't perfect... so don't try to make them that way. Bring it half way.

Good luck with the decision as I know you don't want to offend anybody. If you touch up a bit, they might just take it as a good photo where there teeth look great instead of a photo that has obviously been altered.

Just say you didn't notice and it must have been your white balance setting!!

[appleoo]

I will try the colour satch thing...I still have alot I havent tryed with the photo shop. I certainly dont want to offend anyone.....you are right about that

[appleoo]

I did as you suggested and took a bit of yellow out of the teeth and left the shape alone. It looks fine and I know she will like it. Thanks for your advise. I think I have to watch I dont get carried away with photoshopping. thanks again!!

[RAitch]

The best use of Photoshop goes unnoticed. If you achieve that, you've nailed it.